Best Barefoot Shoe Brands

There is no way to get stronger feet unless you allow your feet to work independently. The only way to do that is to go barefoot, but the next best alternative is wearing barefoot-like shoes, also known as minimalist shoes, which enables you to use your forefoot strike as efficiently as possible when you run.

List of Minimalist Shoe Brands
Because of the high injury rates, and despite all the advancements in running shoe technology, many injured runners are looking to barefoot and minimalist running because both running conditions proved to be important in helping you avoid a high impact heel-strike, and instead, allows you to land properly on your forefoot, which is the best way to connect with the ground. Here’s why!

sandals

Remember, your feet can be strengthened at any point in time, that’s why you should take advantage of barefoot shoes, especially if you want to move away from heel strike running and become a forefoot runner.

Vibram FiveFingers

Vibram Five Fingers is the pioneer in the fast-growing category of minimalist shoes, and is one of the most recognizable shoes because of their individual toe sockets, which gives more leverage to your toes so they can do their part in keeping you balanced while providing more surface to spread impact on.

List of Top Minimalist Shoe Brands
The key difference between the Vibram FiveFingers and others is the five toe sockets that are a functional compliment to the human foot because it enables a ton of room for toe-splay and overall good flexibility for safer, more responsive ground-adaptation.

The FiveFingers are a better option to going barefoot because of the paper-thin, completely flat and fully flexible sole that delivers a massive dose of ground-feel, forcing you to rise up on your forefoot when you run, while providing confident landings on uneven, treacherous terrain.

All in all, the ‘toe shoes’ are incredibly multipurpose, being effective for water sports, OCR races, any gym workout, climbing, cycling, pretty much all of the above! You can learn more about the Vibram FiveFingers here!

Vivobarefoot

One of the other biggest names in the minimalist shoe industry is Vivobarefoot which is known for its iconic upscale style for casual to formal wear, but the shoe is also incredibly versatile and is ideally suited for anything up to the marathon race distance!

List of the Top Minimalist Shoe Brands
Vivobarefoot definitely fits in the pure minimalist category because their shoes embody all the qualities desired by many barefoot runners, but despite being so thin and light, Vivobarefoot shoes are highly durable to handle high mileage.

What makes these shoes so appealing is for one, the wide toe-box, allowing the foot to spread at the metatarsals and toes. For another, the paper-thin, flat sole encourages a natural stride by enhancing a forefoot strike landing.

Even better, because of the super light, feathery feel of the shoe, runners may prefer it for a fast running shoe, but its also a shoe that works for everyone, not just road runners. The shoe performs well for walking, hiking or running on dirt surfaces. Here’s more from Vivobarefoot!

XeroShoes

Xero Shoes is an instant hit in the minimalist community, and you won’t be disappointed either because these shoes get all the minimalist basics right at a budget-friendly price point! Even better that Xero Shoes is backed by a 5,000 mile sole warranty!

List of Top Minimalist Shoe Brands
Xero Shoes keeps the design simple and functional and all of their footwear never loses comfort on road-to-trail routes

Like a true minimalist shoe, XeroShoes are wide and flat, but have a tad more underfoot cushioning than the FiveFingers and Vivobarefoot. However, the extra underfoot protection does not detract from the feel of the ground. The sole is actually very nimble and thin enough to fully feel your forefoot strike, helping keep your forefoot strike in line, while shielding the foot from harm.

XeroShoes also makes athletic sandals that are a fan-favourite because they are nothing but lightweight elements that are fairly evenly matched with the comfort of feeling barefoot. You can check them out here!

Saguaro

If budget is a priority, Saguaro barefoot shoes are very bank-account friendly as most of their shoes are priced well under $100 without skimping on quality.

Best Barefoot Shoe Brands

Saguaro offers a limitless selection on barefoot shoes for running, hiking, swimming and casual every day wear, and none of their shoes do not disappoint because they have all the functional ergonomics your feet need to advance rapidly in sustained health. These shoes are super light, thus you’re carrying less weight on your feet, so you don’t get as tired as quickly, and from that, you’ll go faster and farther!

Better yet, the zero sole easily encourages the barefoot running style without compromising traction, giving you confident strides on a range of terrains.  

Lastly, Saguaro has received high praise from the fashion department because these shoes have vibrant, fun and even more formal styling. 

Merrell

Merrell is another barefoot shoe brand that makes functional footwear full of excellent durability and protective qualities that are also markedly barefoot-worthy!

List of Top Barefoot Shoe Brands
Merrell is known for their high-performance trail running barefoot shoes that are armed with lots of protection points without a lot of unnecessary structure, keeping the shoe soft and flexible and keeping you comfortable for the long haul.

The Merrell barefoot shoe lineup are excellent for rugged, technical trails, but these are actually well-balanced crossover shoes that’ll take you from the trails to the roads without missing a step.

Despite combining moderate cushioning and stone protection, Merrell barefoot shoes offers plenty of reliable ground feedback to have a corrective effect on enhancing your forefoot running form. Learn more about what Merrell has to offer here!

TSLA Barefoot Shoes

TSLA barefoot running shoes are a literal carbon copy of the Merrell Trail Glove, and one of the best differences are TSLA is WAY more reasonably priced! Other differences include the TSLA is more insulated and better-suited for colder weather.

TSLA Barefoot Running Shoe Review
Aside from being trail-specific, the TSLA is an accommodating, do-everything shoe that’s ideal for many types of terrain and is especially ideal for cooler weather.

TSLA is also armed with more durable underfoot protection that exceeds at handling more mileage and faster, harder efforts. Like the Merrell Trail Glove, the TSLA’s upper is also just as vibrantly colourful, and overall fun to wear! So, if you’re on a tight budget, check them out here!

5 Comments

  1. I run a lot of intervals on a treadmill which I have set to 1 degree incline. I’m wondering about whether an incline is advisable. Also, my gym where the treadmill is won’t allow barefoot running so I wear minimalist shoes such as the Asics Piranha, New Balance MRC5000 or a similar racing flat. I get lots of leg muscle soreness but I think I’m adapting. BTW, I’m 72 years old and have been running for 58 years. Thanks for your great videos and website.

  2. Just found this blog good stuff iv been using vibramw ane vivios for 7 years now all the time not just for running. Thanks for your tips and list of minimal footware. Im always on the hunt for the perfect shoes.

  3. I run several times a week on a treadmill and recently invested in a foot pod which shoes I’m a 100 percent heel strike runner. Is there a pair of shoes you’d recommend to help me correct this? Thanks for a really useful website.

  4. Stephen – Run barefoot. If that’s not allowed, wear socks. Your body will naturally adapt to running and striking in a non-painful way.

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